Norway funds Phase II expansion of Aquafeed Technology Centre
The Research Council of Norway has selected the Aquafeed Technology Centre Phase II for funding as part of a NOK 1.24 billion (USD 130 million) investment in 18 national research infrastructure projects. Led by Nofima in collaboration with the University of Bergen and NORCE, the expanded centre will develop capacity to process, formulate and evaluate new feed raw materials and ingredients for aquaculture and other bio-based industries.
The Research Council of Norway has awarded funding to the Aquafeed Technology Centre Phase II, one of 18 national research infrastructure projects sharing a NOK 1.24 billion (USD 130 million) investment, according to a report published by Aquafeed.com on 24 September 2026.
The centre is a national research infrastructure led by Nofima in collaboration with the University of Bergen and NORCE. It provides research groups and industry with access to advanced facilities for processing, formulating and evaluating new feed raw materials, ingredients and feeds for aquaculture and other bio-based industries.
Tor Andreas Samuelsen, who heads the centre at Nofima, described the outcome positively. "We are incredibly proud and delighted today," he said in a press release. "Upgrading the Aquafeed Technology Centre puts us in an even stronger position to contribute to the development of a sustainable industry for feed ingredients, feed and other bio-based products."
According to the source, the investment will expand the infrastructure available for research into new raw materials and ingredients, while strengthening knowledge of nutrition and feed utilization in farmed fish, with the stated aim of supporting more sustainable resource utilization and innovation across the aquaculture industry.
Erik-Jan Lock, Research Director for Nutrition and Feed Technology at Nofima, emphasised the continuity of the effort. "Phase 1 of the Aquafeed Technology Center has been an important driver of research and innovation. With this investment, we are ensuring that Norway will continue to have the knowledge and capacity to develop and process the raw materials of tomorrow," he said.
The Aquafeed Technology Centre was originally established in 2015, when the first phase received funding. Phase II will build on that infrastructure by further developing the capacity to process, formulate and evaluate emerging feed resources at a scale accessible to both researchers and industry, the source reports.
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